May 16, 2004

Cipollini: 'I think that my career ends here'

Mario Cipollini dropped out of the Giro on Saturday. The Lion King holds the record for Giro stage wins, but hadn't won a stage in this year's Tour of Italy, the first time he's come away empty-handed.

Add in an injury suffered during Wednesday's stage, and 3 stage wins so far by Cipo's heir apparent, Alessandro Petacchi, and it was a little more than Italian cycling's prima ballerina could handle:

"It is possible that my career will stop here. It is difficult to find stimulation. For now, I don't want to think about the Tour de France," Cipollini told reporters.

Of course, Cipo announces retirements like J-Lo announces engagements; this is at least the third I remember.